A week to whet your appetites

Short ribs from the Winery Restaurant at the District. (Anthony Gomezx, OC Restaurant Assn.)

Candice Baker

Get those taste buds and appointment books ready.

Starting Sunday, locals will have one week to enjoy the best bang for their restaurant buck as OC Restaurant Week rolls back into town.

This year 100 restaurants from throughout the county will participate, encompassing an astronomical range of cuisines and ambiances — from Thai to tot-friendly. Fixed-price, multi-course menus will run $10, $15 or $20 per person for lunch, or $20, $30 or $40 for dinner.

The event's website, in addition to offering the ability to view each restaurant's prix-fixe menu in advance and to search restaurants by name, city or price point, also features Q&As with top chefs and an interactive map showing all participating restaurants.

"We are really excited about spotlighting the excellent chefs and restaurants in the cities of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, and give the residents of these two cities the opportunity to try the best that the rest of the county has to offer," said Pamela Waitt, president of the OC Restaurant Assn., which produces OC Restaurant Week.

"This has become a true foodie celebration, and it's fantastic to see the entire community come together and enjoy great food."

Chef David Fune of the Hotel Hanford's Savoy Restaurant & Lounge at 3131 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, will showcase a European-Californian pairing of ingredients, aromas and textures, the restaurant said.

Its $20-lunch includes a first-course choice of a hydroponic bibb lettuce salad or soup du jour and a second-course choice of caviar Bonneville, Wagyu beef burger or 3131 Pappardelle, followed by a gratis organic chocolate gelato from San Francisco.

Dinner, set at $40, includes a first-course choice of local grapefruit and shaved octopus or soup du jour; second-course selections like a hydroponic bibb lettuce salad or bacon-wrapped gorgonzola and dates; a main course of California sea bass, Meyers Ranch filet mignon, 3131 Pappardelle or Duroc pork tasting; and a "Kids Flight" of an artisan Kit-Kat, Snickers cake and cake pop.